Online solutions provider AutoONE Media has rolled out a social-media marketing tool — DealerPRO Social — that is designed to help dealers become more effective in their social-media efforts and reach more potential customers. “Dealers are wrestling with ways to utilize Facebook and Twitter while running their day to day business,” stated Juan Carroll, managing […] [Read More]

With multiple family members who are survivors or involved in treatment, Smail Auto Group is making clear its support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The group used more than 5,000 square feet of pink vinyl to cover a section of each of the group’s eight franchised rooftops. It is part of the “Smail Auto […] [Read More]

HOUSTON — One of Experian Automotive’s top experts will be the keynote speaker at the National Alliance of Buy-Here, Pay-Here Dealers’ Conference in November. Director of automotive credit for Experian Automotive Melinda Zabritski will work to dispel the myths of BHPH operators and give attendees a detailed look at how this fast-growing automotive segment is gaining […] [Read More]

MINNETONKA, Minn. — Buy-here, pay-here dealership chain CarHop announced Wednesday the appointment of a new director of inventory and service strategy. Tapped for the position is Matt Dickinson, who will lead the efforts of the company’s vehicle buying, reconditioning, service and warranty teams. Highlighting Dickinson’s previous experience, the new CarHop hire previously worked for eleven […] [Read More]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Bankers Association's latest Consumer Credit Delinquency Bulletin showed auto loan delinquencies were on the rise during the second quarter as were most loan and credit segments. The association discovered that quarter-over-quarter direct auto loan delinquencies rose from 1.20 percent to 1.23 percent, while indirect auto loan delinquencies climbed from 2.72 […] [Read More]

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Boosting claims of an expected year-over-year decline for all of 2011, the American Bankruptcy Institute determined U.S. consumer bankruptcy filings through the first nine months of the year dropped by double digits compared to the same time frame a year ago. Relying on data from the National Bankruptcy Research Center, ABI said […] [Read More]

In what is surely to be welcome news for automakers and dealers, close to a third of consumers say they are interested in buying a new vehicle, which is almost a 10-percentage-point improvement from a year ago, according to a Chrome Systems survey. The survey — conducted by IBOPE Zogby International — indicates that 30 […] [Read More]

September marked the fourth straight time new-vehicle transaction prices have fallen on a sequential basis, resulting in a five-month low for what new cars are fetching, according to TrueCar. Specifically, the average new-car transaction price was $29,439 during the month. This is 1.2-percent higher than the year-ago figure but is off modestly (0.1 percent) from […] [Read More]

Manheim expanded its Trade Desk Wednesday to support more dealers across more sales channels. The company highlighted director of Manheim Trade Desk Ben Gutwein and his team will now offer both high-volume buyers and sellers one-on-one advice on Manheim’s complete portfolio of in-lane and digital products and services 24 hours a day, seven days a […] [Read More]

Mercedes-Benz USA revealed Tuesday that it has set down roots in the newly named Mercedes-Benz Superdome — formerly the Louisiana Superdome — and is now the vehicle of choice among the NFL’s New Orleans Saints. The 10-year agreement provides the OEM with official naming rights to the stadium set to host the 2013 Super Bowl […] [Read More]